well so lets talk 'bout me:

I'm Julia, but u can call me lila or bunnie =), im 21, i live in copacabana, rio de janeiro - Brazil.

im at college but almost finishing it, i'll graduate this year

im not so good in english, but i love the english language! i luv american people too hehe

i'd loooove to make some new friend here! im kind of lonely... dont kno why but i miss some good friends company...

i like to go out and dance.... i luv rock, hc, punk, powerpop, eletronic, reggae...

i luv blink 182, courtney love an a rocket to the moon

so... this is me =)

enjoy it!

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for years after seizing power in a 1999 military coup, making the country a key strategic ally of the U.S. by supporting the war on terror. But his popularity at home sank over the years.

But his influence has faded steadily over the past year. He quit the pivotal post of army chief in November and his resignation was widely forecast.

Washington and European capitals will hope his removal will let the civilian government focus on terrorism and the country's economic woes, though Musharraf's exit could also trigger a struggle to replace him.

Pakistan's stock market and currency both rose strongly on hopes that the country was bound for political stability. Television footage showed groups of people celebrating in the streets in several towns across Pakistan, some of them firing automatic weapons into the sky.

In his hour-long address, Musharraf said he would turn in his resignation to the National Assembly speaker Monday. It was not immediately clear whether it would take effect the same day. Mohammedmian Soomro, the chairman of the upper house of parliament, was poised to take over in the interim.

It remains an open question whom parliament will elect to succeed Musharraf, partly because the ruling coalition has vowed to strip the presidency of much of its power.

There is speculation that both Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, the leaders of the two main parties, are interested in the role. However, neither has openly said so.

It was also unclear whether Musharraf would stay in Pakistan or go into exile.

After inspecting a guard on honor outside his hulking white marble palace in the capital, a pokerfaced Musharraf stepped into a black limousine and left the building -- perhaps for the last time.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, head of the main pro-Musharraf party, said Musharraf would live in Islamabad, where he owns a farmhouse on the outskirts.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss later Monday whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on the impeachment charges.

Briefly, his political foes put those issues on the back-burner and got on with celebrating.

"It is a victory of democratic forces," Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. "Today, the shadow of dictatorship that has prevailed for long over this country, that chapter has been closed."

In the northern city of Peshawar, a crowd of people danced to drum beats and embraced at an intersection.

"It is very pleasing to know that Musharraf is no more," said Mohammed Saeed, a shopkeeper among the crowd.

"He even tried to deceive the nation in his last address. He was boasting about economic progress when life for people like us has become a hell," he said, because of economic problems that include runaway inflation.

Many Pakistanis blame the rising militant violence in their country on Musharraf's use of the army against militants nested in the northwest. His reputation suffered fatal blows in 2007 when he ousted dozens of judges and imposed emergency rule. His rivals won February parliamentary elections and have since sought his ouster.

Musharraf, who has been largely sidelined since his rivals came to power, finally yielded after the coalition finalized impeachment charges against him and threatened to send a motion to Parliament later this week.

The charges were expected to include violating the constitution and gross misconduct, likely in connection with the ouster of the judges and the declaration of emergency rule.

A defiant Musharraf, seated in an office between two national flags, listed the many problems facing Pakistan, including its sinking economy and a chronic power shortage. He said his opponents were wrong to blame him for the mounting difficulties and suggested they were going after him to mask their own failings.

"I pray the government stops this downward slide and takes the country out of this crisis," he said.

Allies and rivals of the president said talks had suggested that Musharraf might quit in return for legal immunity from future prosecution.

Sharif's party insists he should be tried for treason, which carries a maximum punishment of death.

"The crimes of Musharraf against the nation, against the judiciary, against democracy and against rule of law in the country cannot be forgiven by any party or individual," its spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said Monday.

Qureshi would not say whether Musharraf might be granted a "safe exit" -- speculation has focused on whether he might go into exile in Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

"That is a decision that has to be taken by the democratic leadership," Qureshi, who is from the main ruling Pakistan People's Party, told Dawn News television.

The ruling parties also came under immediate pressure from protesting lawyers to meet a promise to restore the ousted judges -- a matter fraught with political calculations because of Sharif's vociferous championing of their cause.

Law Minister Farooq Naek said both the means and the timing of their restoration remained open.

The international response made clear how world leaders had moved on from their reliance on Musharraf to keep his nuclear-armed nation on its current, moderate track.

Nations including British and Germany, who both have troops in Afghanistan and worry about al-Qaida plotting attacks on their soil from havens in Pakistan, urged the civilian government to bolster their security policies as well as Pakistani democracy.

However, the Afghan government, which accuses Pakistan of secretly aiding the Taliban, could not resist a parting shot.

Musharraf "was not someone good for Afghanistan," Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said, accusing him of being an ally of the United States in words only.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman declined to comment after Musharraf's speech, referring calls to Washington.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that while Musharraf had been a "good ally," Washington was supportive of the new government and Musharraf's future was an internal issue.

"Pakistan and the United States have a joint interest in fighting terror," Rice said on Fox News television. "That's what we're concentrating on, that and helping Pakistan to sustain its economy, to build its schools, its health. We have a broad Pakistan policy."

Source: AP

Even Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding joined the fray, saying in a June high-school graduation address that the $1 million, 12-year translation project "signifies an admission to failure" to properly learn and teach English.

Other critics have argued that as an obscure vernacular dialect, patois is incapable of communicating the deeper truths of Scripture. Many linguistic scholars, however, say patois, or Jamaican Creole, is an autonomous language rather than an English dialect.

Gerry Seale, general secretary of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, said a Standard English version of the Bible will stay popular in the country. But "so many Jamaicans speak patois rather than Standard English that this has a chance of communicating with their hearts in a much greater way than Standard English [does]," he said. Jamaica Association of Evangelicals president Peter Garth says the organization supports the project largely because of the positive response the Jesus film received when it was released in patois. "We know that there are some problems in terms of the spelling and so forth, but what we do know is that it will attract a lot more readers," he said.

Bertram Gayle, a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators Caribbean and coordinator of the Jamaican Creole Translation Project, noted that the debate surrounding the translation has thus far focused on the "languageness" of Jamaican Creole, while the primary aim of the project is spiritual.

"I'm confident that Scriptures in Jamaican will help strengthen and standardize the language, shed inherited colonial prejudice against the language, and provide material for literacy and education," Gayle said. "Most of all, however, [we] want Jamaicans to be able to identify somewhat with the linguistically diverse crowd of Acts 2:11. Bible translation agencies will tell you that the challenges encountered are insignificant in comparison with being able to hear God's Word in one's heart-language." The arguments are not new to Bible translators, said Wycliffe Bible Translators USA senior vice president Ruth Hubbard, and they are likely to intensify.

"The translation projects currently under way or yet to be done are also considered minority languages," she said. "They are communities within a larger context. In each of those cases, there is some tension: Should a lot of attention be paid to honoring minority languages, or should we push these communities to learn wider languages quicker so they can be part of the larger global community? Wycliffe says 'yes' to both questions."

"It might help people to remember that the Greek of the New Testament was not the Greek of literature but the common Greek of the street," said A. Scott Moreau, professor of intercultural studies at Wheaton College. "In that sense, translating the Bible into patois as a language of the people makes very good sense."

Source: Christianity Today

For the past couple of weeks the general public had been told via the Saddleback Web site that ticket information would be forthcoming. Then last week the message changed and said a limited number of tickets would be available tomorrow. Last night the message was revised again. This time it said all tickets had been distributed.

"We couldn't accommodate everybody,'' said Ross. He said church officials had hoped to have some tickets for the public but that became impossible when they realized they couldn't satisfy all the church members who wanted a chance to see the Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls.

Ross said Saddleback decided to charge admission to the event because of the expenses to put it on and provide television feeds to a host of networks, including CNN and Fox, both of which will broadcast the event live.

"The original intent was that anything beyond a production costs would go toward the PEACE Plan,'' Ross said. That project funds the church's global missions. "It's a way for Saddleback members to participate in that effort."

Orange County Democratic Party Chairman Frank Barbaro said he is concerned that charging for tickets - with tickets costing up to $2,000 - will shut out many Obama supporters from the event.

"I don't think anybody thought going in that this was going to be a fundraiser,'' said Barbaro, who as of now hasn't received any tickets for local Democratic activists. "It seems that this will skew the audience to a more well-heeled Republican element.''

Barbaro said he knows there were many Saddleback church members, "especially young Democrats, who had been online trying to get in and now will have absolutely no chance to see this by virtue of the expense.''

With prices for tickets ranging from $500 to $2,000, the church could take in between $2.5 million and $10 million, based on 5,000 tickets being available.

But Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh said has no problem with the way Warren is handling the forum.

"I saw an e-mail that Rick Warren sent out soliciting advice from the folks who worship at Saddleback as to how they should equitably allocate the tickets,'' Baugh said. "And knowing Rick Warren, I would safely go out on a limb and suggest he's probably found a way to equitably distribute these tickets and I'm sure some folks who couldn't afford to buy one will be given a way to attend. That's the nature of that man's heart."

Ross said each campaign was allocated some tickets for people they wanted to accommodate.

"I think the pricing structure you referenced is consistent with other events like this that have been held throughout the primaries,'' Ross added.

Saturday's event, at which Warren will question the candidates separately -- first Obama and then McCain -- is part of Saddleback's Civil Forum, a new initiative for the church.

Ross said this is the second such Forum event and next month former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be the guest. Ross said he did not know if the church would also be charging for tickets for that event.

Some in Orange County are concerned that church officials did not make it clear from the outset that this could be seen as a fundraiser for Saddleback.

"This 'event' is nothing more than a thinly veiled fundraiser for Saddleback Church,'' Gia Lugo of San Juan Capistrano, said in an e-mail to the Register. She said she was "disappointed'' that both candidates would agree to participate in a church fundraiser. The Register this morning asked both campaigns to comment on the way tickets are being distributed.

Church members were given several ways to get tickets in an online drawing which they had to sign up for by Aug. 8.

Some free tickets were given out for the so-called video venues where church members could watch the event.

"Charter" church members, those who joined Saddleback between 1980 and 1984 and other volunteers who serve in the children's or student ministries could apply for free seats in the worship center.

Then there were three drawings for paid tickets in the worship center: $500 for bleacher seats, $1,000 for angled floor seats and $2,000 for front center seats.

The e-mail notice that went out to church members made it clear that the proceeds would go to Saddleback Church, not to either of the presidential campaigns.

Source: OC Register

This nigga's actions speak so much louder than words. Its not like he don't know shit. Its not like keep the nigga in the dark about shit. He don't care. He'll get all gussied up to go to some funky ass comedy show but when we go out he just wash under his arms and put on something that he had on that following day or just say he ready. I mean even though we are just going to the movies. At least care enough about your appearance. I mean shit when I leave from here it look like I'm going some where important and all I'm doing is to go see him and to just sit in the apartment the whole day playing video games.

I was sitting at the bus stop thinking about so much shit it almost brung tears to my eyes. I'm sick of blogging this shit out. If he didn't make it feel like telling him would be a waste of his time listening maybe I would tell him. If he didn't make me feel like my feelings are something not getting so worked up over then maybe I would have enough courage to tell him about himself.

He makes me so damned angry. I never gotten this angry over anyone I've ever been with. This relationship is truly not meant to be. I pictured me telling him to his face that I can't do it any more and that I'm not in love with him any more and just breaking into tears. I never almost cried or gotten this angry over any relationship. EVER.

Being there more often and around him made me see the person for who he really is. Yea yea he tries and what not but it don't last. It only last when I say something and if I keep saying something. But no he don't do it cause it hurts me, he only do it to fill the void. Yea he don't shit to call his own, no money, nothing to show for what he went to school for but I loved him anyway for the personality I thought I knew but I don't any more. I don't know who the fuck he is at all. I thought I didn't know him before; well its beyond that. I never felt so much anger when I half-look at him.

He don't compliment me or nothing, we don't converse like adults. We don't connect. Only on a lets call each other names and bash each other level. Not on an serious level, that shit don't exist. If I was to say that to him, he would say either I would get mad or why don't I say these things? It wouldn't matter because he already got it set in his mind that he know me. Actually telling him the reasons why would fly right over his short ass. I don't get angry all the time.

Lately though, he hasn't been considering nothing of me. This feeling of neglect has a strong hold on me and yes he has been neglecting me this past week and this week.  I only see him so often now. Whats fucked up, I'M THERE! Not over here, but there. He'll stay in the same room with me for five damned seconds but his love of his life, that sad, abuse, poor excuse for a computer beckons him every single minute that he's around. I try to think of things to keep my mind occupied and what not, I try to do things to keep me from getting angry. I try so hard but I can't deny the fact that this relationship is for the birds.

I put my all in the relationships I get in. Even when I have my doubts. i try helping out the best way I can. I try. He don't realize what he has in front of him. He don't care, he only trying to get in where he fit in. With his small ass, thats every where. I can't win, at all. Its either say something and get told you're wrong in all types of ways but one. Or not say anything and feel worse than if you open your mouth. I'm not the one to give up on things like this. Like he say I give up to easily. No the hell I don't, I'm just sick of fighting for affection, attention, love. Cause he say it but I seriously don't believe it. When I hear it, I hear, I hate you, I hurt you, I don't love you. When I read it, its as blank as my face right now. The spark that once was in love with this nigga is gone. I don't even know if I just love him not. I would have to sit and think about that.

He never even told me why he love me or even like me around. I shake my head cause I'm realizing so much shit its sickening. I'm tired, the more I think the more I so ready to give up & now that I've thought about it for the last two weeks or so. Its time to completely forget about him.

Many people, even some experienced commercial real estate developers, mistakenly believe that a mezzanine loan is simply a 2nd position commercial mortgage loan against a commercial property. It is not, mezzanine financing is a highly sophisticated form of lending that requires specialized business and banking knowledge.

Many acquisition and development projects require additional financing beyond a traditional first mortgage. The simplest, fastest and least expensive method of borrowing in these situations is to have the seller or another lender write a traditional 2nd mortgage. Unfortunately, especially in today's era of tightened credit, 2nd position liens are often impossible, due to an equity shortage, or disallowed by mortgage covenants mandated by the 1st position holder. The-fact-is that there are many scenarios where the option of a simple 2nd is just not available. These scenarios give rise to what's known as mezzanine lending.

Unlike a mortgage, a mezzanine loan is not a lien against a piece of commercial real estate. It is a loan secured by the assets of a business entity. A title search will not turn up mezzanine loans because they are not attached to a properties ownership documents. In this way they do not violate any provisions of a 1st mortgage that precludes a 2nd.

With the cooperation of the borrower, a mezzanine lender sets up a single purpose, business entity, such as an LLC or a Trust. Title and ownership of the target real estate and corresponding businesses are placed in the entity so the whole project is owned by the new company. The company is run by the borrower. The actual mezzanine loan is made to the company but is also personally guaranteed by the principle borrowers. The loan is secured by the assets of the company (the real estate and its operations) and allows the lender to take over full ownership and operations in the event of default.

Although simple in concept, mezzanine lending is complex and difficult in practice. Attorneys for both the borrower and the lender must be very involved in drafting the provisions of the loan and making sure the new entity is properly set up and maintained. Borrowers want their rights protected while lenders need to make sure their security interest in the firm and, indirectly, the real estate is legally binding. Often the real estate, the borrower and the lender are domiciled in different States making the whole enterprise subject to interstate commerce regulations and further complicating the loan.

The legal and closing costs as-well-as maintenance costs associated with mezzanine loans are extremely high compared to conventional lending. For this reason mezzanine financing structures are wholly inappropriate for small deals. It's very difficult to make mezzanine capital cost effective in projects worth under $10MM.

Mezzanine loans certainly have their place; their loan volume can be counted in the tens of billions of dollars. When they're needed and when done correctly they are true deal savers. A partnership with a mezzanine lender can be an invaluable resource to a developer or commercial real estate investor. However, investors and developers need to understand exactly what a mezzanine loan is and be ready for the costs that come with them.

Wow. I am not consistent with this blog at alll. But I'm not ever really consistent with stuff. I'm just glad I still update this every once in a while. =]

Anyway, AZ and NM aren't talking to each other over this bitch Christine.
But AZ is still cool with me I guess.
Anyway, I'm back at my lowest weight. I lost like 9 pounds in 3 days when I was sick! Hooray! And I'm going to try and keep this up!

I also got a new haircut. It cost only $6.50 and looks super cute.

I also bought new jeans today. I'm now a size 12L at Gap! Hooray for that. Today was just an overall spiffy day. More days should be like this.
Well, I still need to clean my room and do my summerwork, but still. I'll stress about all that later.

Nice updating with you alll. =]

]]> http://liberalz.wordpress.com/?p=3 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:26:40 +0000 liberalz http://liberalz.wordpress.com/?p=3 The New York Times reports that some are concerned that as John McCain goes negative he might lose the support of some potential supporters: The old happy warrior side of Mr McCain has been eclipsed a bit lately by a much more